Arturo Rivera Joins Women's Volleyball Coaching Staff

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard women's volleyball head coach Jen Weiss has announced the hiring of Arturo Rivera as an assistant coach. Rivera will bring more than six years of coaching experience to the court in 2013 as well as playing experience at both the collegiate and international level.

"I am excited to have Arturo join our Harvard volleyball family," Weiss commented. "Arturo brings with him a great knowledge of the game and a passion for teaching. He understands and respects the philosophy of the Ivy League and is excited for the opportunity ahead."

Rivera spent the past academic year as a volunteer assistant at North Carolina where he helped the Tar Heels to a 26-6 overall record and a trip to the NCAA Tournament second round. Under the guidance of head coach Joe Sagula, UNC earned a pair of All-America honorable mention selections in Emily McGee and Paige Neuenfeldt while McGee and Chaniel Nelson were named to the All-ACC Team. Rivera was responsible for video breakdown and coding with the Tar Heels and also assisted with scouting and on the court coaching of the team's liberos and middles.

Rivera has also spent time working at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and Central Florida where he assisted with on court coaching, scouting, recruiting and video work. He began his collegiate coaching career as an undergraduate at UCF assisting with the varsity program while also serving as the head beach coach.

Rivera was the head coach of Triade-VCT in 2009-10, a professional team playing in Tilburg, Netherlands. With Triade he was responsible for game planning, scouting, player development, practice plans and team travel.

"Arturo will bring intensity on court and help our student-athletes grow as volleyball players," added Weiss. "More importantly, he will help them develop character, integrity, and individual confidence while striving towards our common goals."

Rivera is no stranger to competition himself, having played more than 12 years at the international, collegiate and club levels. He most recently helped STV Tilburg to the B-League championship in the Netherlands following a first-place performance at the 2009 USA Open Volleyball Championships. Rivera has also trained in Puerto Rico with Ponce Leones of the Superior League, helped the UCF men's club team to a third-place finish at the 2008 NIRSA Nationals and was a member of the Ball State University varsity program as a freshman in 2004-05.

Rivera began his collegiate career at Ball State before transferring to Central Florida for his sophomore year. He graduated from UCF in 2008 with an interdisciplinary degree in health and education, and a minor in Spanish.